Choanal Polyps – Review of 49 Patients

Introduction:

Choanal polyps are benign tumors of the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx, originating mostly from the mucosa of the maxillary sinus. The differential diagnoses include benign and malignant tumors such as juvenile angiofibroma, mucoceles, inverted papilloma and carcinoma.

Methods:

This retrospective study includes a total of 49 patients that were diagnosed with choanal polyps between 2008 and 2018 at our department of otorhinolaryngology. We analyzed the average patient's age, their cause of presentation, the polyps' origin and the imaging techniques that were used for diagnosis prior to hospital presentation.

Results:

The patient population consisted of 49 patients (15 female and 34 male patients). The mean age at time of diagnosis was 29,1 years. Except for one patient, all patients presented with unilateral nasal obstruction. On 86% of patients (42/49) had CT scan imaging prior to their presentation at our hospital, 12% (6/49) magnetic resonance imaging. The mean age of the patients that underwent MRI was 11,1 years. By intraoperative diagnosis, 94% (46/49) of choanal polyps originated from the maxillary sinus. In 98% (48/49) there was an unilateral presentation. 94% (46/49) of the patients underwent their initial surgery at our department, for one of these patients (2%, 1/46) revision surgery was performed due to relapsing nasal polyps.

Conclusions:

Nasal endoscopy is the standard method of diagnosis for patients with unilateral nasal obstruction in order to identify choanal polyps. For differential diagnosis and preoperative planning, additional imaging is advised. In our hands, the endoscopic surgical resection represents the standard of care resulting in an immediate relief of presenting symptoms and low recurrence rates.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)